Electron discharge device



July 4, 1939. R CLARK 2,164,699

ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Original Filed July 6, 1937 nun manna IN VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 4, 1939 2,164,699

iliTED STATES PATENT OFFIQE ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Richard U. Clark,Fort Wayne, Ind.

Original application July 6, 1937, Serial No.

152,014. Divided and this application November 28, 1938, Serial No,242,702

2 Claims. (Cl. 250177) The present invention relates to electron dis-There is provided a non-conducting partition charge devices and moreparticularly to a novel l5 having an outer diameter greater than thatconstruction of vapor electric tube primarily of the plates. Thispartition has a. central openadapted for the generation or by-passing ofaping which forms a close fit or contact with the 5 preciable amounts ofelectric current of either outer surface of the common cathode. 5 analternating or pulsating nature, when prop- The grids 5 and 6 as well asplates or anodes erly excited by direct or alternating current from Hand I2 abut against the partition i5 which any suitable external source,as shown in my Reacts as a screen or baffle to prevent stray arcs issuePatent No. 20,727 issued May 17, 1938. between the adjacent tubesections. It also 10 This application is a division of my copendingserves to center and anchor the multiple grids 10 application Serial No.152,014, filed July 6, 1937, and plates. I on Electron discharge device.The common cathode or electron emittin One of the objects of the presentinvention is means may be of the oxide coated type, of caesito provide anovel construction of vapor electric ated metal, or of any other typesuitable for use tube employing a readily ionizable atmosphere, withalkali metal vapors. In the disclosed emin combination with a commonelectron emitting bodiment it comprises a tube-like sleeve Iii exmeans,a plurality of associated grids and anodes nd ou e partition enclosinghea and means for permitting a free but controlled ng C011 l7, Whichcoil is connected to the sleeve flow of electrons from substantially theentire It by Suitable connection a W urf e of the emitting mean Thegrids 5 and 6 are connected through a by- Another object of the presentinvention is to passageway Which extends from point Wit provide in avapor electric tube having multiple ne g id. outwardly through thepartition l5 and grid and anode elements, a common cathode or into theadjacent grid, Such passageway being 0f electron emitting means soconstructed and ara size and displacem Sufficient y-p s the ranged 3, topermit a free and complete flow of fiOW of electrons and ions from oneportion Of 25 electrons from substantially its entire emitting thecathode to another at such times as the grids surface t one plate ,1; a,time, prevent simultaneous emission to the plates. In

The above features, advantages and capabilithe particular form shown inFig. 1 for accomties of my present invention will become apparentpushing this Object I have ShOWh tWO Such p sfrom a description of theaccompanying draw- SageWayS i9 and 20 Which are of arcllate Shape 30 min which I have m t t d one form of my and extend through the partitionl5 outside of invention but the form there shown is to be the p p y 0the grids but have their intake understood as illustrative only and notas definand discharge ends terminating Within e p ing the limits of myinvention except as exy 0f the spressed or intended to be expressed inthe ap- It is obvious that these communicating passage- 35 pendedclaims. Ways may also extend outside the plates if de- Fig. 1 is a viewpartly in section of an electron sired, or by pr p y Shielding the p aes and leads discharge device illustrating an embodiment of a vir uallyC osed passage will exist from either my invention, end of one grid,around the tube structure, back Fig. 2 is a cross sectional View showinga modit0 the end of the Other g d permitting the flow 40 ficaticnthereof. of cathode emission, provided the grid end shields Referring tothe drawing in detail there is (115- have suitable openings or ductstherein. closed an evacuated bulb l in which is mounted In Fig. 2 amodified form is shown in which a common cathode or electron emittingmeans the partition 2i extends Vertically instead of horiprovided withleads 3 and 4 for supplying heater zcntally, as shown in Fig. l and theby-passage- 45 excitation. This common cathode may be heated Ways 22 and23 corresponding to the by-passageeither indirectly or as a filament.Surrounding ways 59 and 20 of Fig. 1 are arranged horizontalorencompassing the electron emitting means are ly instead of vertically asshown in Fig. l and provided multiple grids 5 and 6 having heat passthrough the partition at a point outside radiators i and 8 connected-tolead wires 9 and the periphery of the grids and arranged to have 50 i8,respectively. Surrounding these grids are their intake and dischargeends terminating plates or anodes H and i2 connected to lead within theperiphery of the grid, and as in Fig. 1,

wires l3 and M, respectively. The grid heat these by-passageways are ofa size and displaceradiators "l and 8 are employed to maintain the mentsuflicient to bypass the flow of electrons and grids cool and to reducethe grid emission. ions from one portion of the cathode to the other atsuch times as the grids prevent simultaneous emission to the plates. Bythis arrangement the free flow of electrons from substantially theentire surface of the cathode or electron emitting means is permitted toone plate at a time when the tube is in operation notwithstanding thepartition tightly fits around the cathode and notwithstanding theIcy-passageways extend outside the periphery of the grids.

In my preferred form the anodes and grids are made of compressed andsintered powders of conducting materials including rhenium or othermetals of high oxidizing temperatures, and poisonous to electronemission, and carbon, all proportioned to afiord minimum electronemission and at the same time a maximum heat radiation from such parts.

The particular form disclosed may be employed with satisfactory resultsin oscillating circuits to convert the input into alternating orpulsating current from applied direct current source. This type of tubeis particularly important in low voltage oscillating circuits such asare necessarily employed in operating radio sets.

Having thus described the invention I claim:

1. An electric discharge tube having an envelope and an electronemitting cathode, anodes and grids therein made of compressed sinteredpowders of conducting materials, including metals of high oxidizingtemperatures and poisonous to electron emission together with carbonproportioned to afford minimum electron emission and a maximum heatradiation.

2. A substantially non-emitting electrode for electron discharge tubesmade of pressed sintered powders of conducting materials includingmetals or" high oxidizing temperatures poisonous to electron emissiontogether With carbon proportioned to afford minimum electron emissionand maximum heat radiation.

RICHARD U. CLARK.

